John F. Price - Obituary

ohn F. Price, age 94, a resident of Bowie, MD and formerly of Annapolis, MD, passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2026. Born and raised in Tiffin, Ohio to the late Helen Price Heyman and Frank J. Gentile, he attended Columbian High School before moving to Los Angeles, California where he received his Bachelor of Science in Geology from Occidental College. He then served in the United States Army, Field Artillery, from 1954 to 1956, and was stationed in Dachau, Germany. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years, Margie, his half-brother, Frank Dumont, his stepbrother, Oren (Martha) Heyman, his stepsister, June (Robert, dec.) Taylor, and his half-sister, J-Anna (James) Hoffman. His greatest legacy, however, was the epic love story he shared with his wife, Margie, of 62 years. Their bond was the kind of deep, enduring romance people usually only read about or see on the big screen, often drawing comparisons to the devoted couple in The Notebook. They were truly inseparable; a unity they playfully showed the world through their perfectly color-coordinated outfits. Together, they shared a deep passion for exploring the world. Whether cruising the Mediterranean or journeying across Europe, they loved experiencing new cultures, most notably through group guided tours organized by their beloved Catholic peer ministry program, Retrouvaille, in which they served for many years. Closer to home, they found equal joy in the beauty of nature. They cherished their time visiting state parks, staying in cozy cabins, spending their days walking scenic trails, and sightseeing along quiet rivers. But no matter where life took John, his Ohio roots continued to run deep, evidenced by his unwavering loyalty to the (former) Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns, an allegiance passed down to his son. Beyond his devotion to Margie, he was a man of many passions. He was an avid golfer who loved spending days on the green within their retirement community and was a dedicated coin enthusiast with an eye for history. He possessed a sharp mind and a patient spirit, which he poured into solving complex puzzles and meticulously researching his family’s genealogy, ensuring that the history of the loved ones he cherished would be preserved for generations to come. Alongside his devotion to genealogy, photography was one of his greatest passions. His journey behind the lens began while stationed in Germany, sparked by the purchase of a Retina IIc 35mm camera. Over the decades, he captured the world around him, and his family within it, leaving them an invaluable gift: 11,000 carefully curated photographs, beautifully organized by year on a flash drive. Rewinding the clock to earlier in his marriage, John truly shone as a devoted father to their three children. Those years were filled with his steady presence—whether he was patiently guiding them through nightly homework, heading downtown to help them research school projects, or coaching their many Bowie Boys and Girls Club sports. John deeply believed in the importance of family vacations. Every summer, he gathered the family to explore the beaches along the East Coast. His dedication to his children was unmatched; at age 40, he bravely learned to ski, just so he could teach them. For John, skiing wasn’t about the slopes at first—it was about the patient work of picking his kids up after every fall, scraping compacted snow from their boots, and clipping them back in, just so they could slide a few more yards and do it all over again. Each Thanksgiving, he brought his family back to where it all began for him in Tiffin, Ohio. In the early morning darkness, he would carefully pack numerous suitcases on top of the family station wagon and secure them beneath an old, weathered tarp. In the back of the car, he laid out a thick sleeping bag where Margie and the children took turns playing games, cross-legged, or catching a nap. Whenever the backseat grew too noisy, he would threaten to pull over and make someone walk—a promise his children always knew he would never keep. From the time his children were young, he enjoyed sitting down with them for a good game of cards, a time of laughter and connection, and a love for friendly competition that he proudly passed down to them and his grandchildren. Music was the heartbeat of the Price family from the very beginning, starting back when he and Margie were first dating. In those early days, their home was anchored by a classic hi-fi console, flanked by stacks of well-loved albums on each side. The living room and hallway constantly echoed with the voices of Glen Campbell, Neil Diamond, and Barbra Streisand, alongside the vibrant sounds of Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass. This deep love for music—both vocal and instrumental—became a lasting legacy, beautifully passed down to his children and grandchildren. Though he led a remarkably full and busy life, he deeply cherished his professional career in the Science and Technology Division of the Library of Congress—the very job that originally brought him to the East Coast from Los Angeles. When dementia struck his beloved Margie in 2017, John became her selfless, unwavering caregiver. It’s been said the western tradition from the Greeks distinguishes four types of love and has a Greek word for all of them. Witnessing the life of John and how he loved, he was blessed to attain each form of love: Eros; passionate love, Philia; love of friends and equals, Storge; love of parents and children, and Agape; the most important-the kind of love without any self-benefit, this kind of love is important in the process of forgiveness, a love that sets a very high bar but is the foundation for happiness and contentment. When dementia struck a second time, this time to John, he moved to Brightview Wellspring Village in Crofton, MD, just a mile away from his daughters. His final year was spent wrapped in comfort and surrounded by a circle of deep love. He looked forward to continuous visits from his daughter, Keri, who treasured getting to know the incredibly dedicated and loving caretakers in Wellspring Village. His personal caretaker, Becky, continued to visit him weekly, doting on him with unwavering affection. Every Sunday, his daughter Tami and her husband, Rob, brought in lunch from one of his favorite restaurants, Anthony’s of Bowie, filling his weekends with warmth. His son, Scott, traveled frequently to Maryland to share meaningful, quality time with him, and a chance to hear his father refer to him as his childhood nickname, Fella. John cherished the time spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whether they were visiting in-person or catching up during their weekly FaceTime calls. John deeply felt and acknowledged this abundance of love until the very end. John is survived by his three loving children; Keri Price, Tami (Rob) Liberati, and Scott (Trisha) Price, four grandchildren; Amelia (Mark) Boissonneault, Robbie (Kateri) Liberati, and Brady and Jarett Price, and two great-grandchildren, Clara and Gavin Boissonneault. Family and friends may gather at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, 1940 Mitchellville Road Bowie, MD on Friday, September 25, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. for visitation, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Interment will immediately follow Mass at Maryland Veterans Cemetery 1122 Sunrise Beach Road, Crownsville, MD. Family and friends are warmly invited to attend the ceremony at Crownsville as well as a repast luncheon immediately following the cemetery. Details to follow. His children would like to say, “We’ll see you later, Dad.” And if we listen closely, we can hear him answer, “Right-o.” Memorial donations, in John’s memory, may be made to either of his favorite charities; Wounded Warriors Project PO Box 758516 Topeka, KS 66675 or Dementia Society of America PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901.